DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The Miami University hockey team is in a zone. A serious zone. The Ohio State Buckeyes know it, everybody knows it.

The second-ranked RedHawks ran their record to

4-0 Sunday night with a second straight 5-1 victory over the 12th-ranked Buckeyes before a crowd of 2,645 at Steve Cady Arena.

Freshman Tommy Wingels scored two goals for the RedHawks, giving him four in the last three games, and junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff held his fourth straight opponent to just one goal.

"It's been a team effort," Miami head coach Enrico Blasi said, "and (Zatloff) would be the first one to tell you everyone in front of him has played very well, too."

All four of Miami's contests this season have been against Top 20 teams (Vermont and Ohio State) and the RedHawks have outscored them 16-4.

Blasi remained cautious. "We're in game four of a long season," he pointed out. "There are a lot of areas we can improve on."

Wingels put Miami on top 1-0 at the 7:06 mark of the first period on a short blast assisted by Justin Mercier.

Seven minutes later a goal by Miami junior Bill Loupee, assisted by Alexandre Lacombe and Mitch Ganzak, made it 2-0.

In the second period Mercier, a junior, scored his fourth goal of the season on an assist from Kevin Roede.

The RedHawks killed off their first 19 penalties this season, but that streak ended when OSU senior Tommy Goebel scored a power-play goal at 11:25 of period two, making it 3-1.

Miami junior Alec Martinez answered with a goal shot not far from the blue line. Assists went to Ganzak, his second of the game, and Carter Camper.

Wingels nailed his second goal in the final period on an assist from Gary Steffes.

Ranking rumblings

The RedHawks could make a case for themselves replacing North Dakota as the nation's top-ranked team.

Last week Miami jumped in the rankings from No. 4 to No. 2. On Friday, No. 1 North Dakota played No. 4 Boston College to a 0-0 tie in a game shortened to two periods because of poor ice conditions.

North Dakota did win Saturday 3-0 over Northeastern to raise its record to 2-0-1.

Nate update

Senior forward Nathan Davis, Miami's leading point scorer last season, missed his third consecutive game with the separated shoulder he suffered in the opener against Vermont.

"He's day-to-day right now," Blasi said. "Whenever he's 100 percent, we'll decide to put him in the lineup."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.